New Jersey (State Librarian specifically requested a visit and we decided to do by phone.) Profiles of these states will be included in the report. Karen Strege, former State Librarian in Montana, has been hired to conducted to do background research from their websites of all 15 states being studied and to conduct the telephone interviews for those states without field visits. A graduate student has also been hired to do background research on all 50 states.

+

* Maryland

+

* New Jersey (State Librarian specifically requested a visit and we decided to do by phone.)

+

+

Profiles of these states will be included in the report. Karen Strege, former State Librarian in Montana, has been hired to conducted to do background research from their websites of all 15 states being studied and to conduct the telephone interviews for those states without field visits. A graduate student has also been hired to do background research on all 50 states.

Criteria for states chosen for field visits

Criteria for states chosen for field visits

States chosen are:

States chosen are:

−

High Connetivity

+

+

===High Connetivity===

Ohio

Ohio

Missouri

Missouri

Line 36:

Line 40:

2. High Connectivity States both with and without a state network

2. High Connectivity States both with and without a state network

Three states have statewide networks but different configurations.

Three states have statewide networks but different configurations.

−

Ohio

+

*Ohio

−

Missouri

+

*Missouri

−

Kentucky

+

*Kentucky

−

One state does not have a network but does have high connectivity.

+

One state does not have a network but does have high connectivity.

−

Michigan

+

*Michigan

3. Choose two states with low connectivity but interest in getting higher connectivity for their states

3. Choose two states with low connectivity but interest in getting higher connectivity for their states

Criteria to use for selecting states
The group decided:
· send teams for extensive conversations in seven states
· conduct telephone interviews with states where we already have substantial information

States chosen for telephone interviews are:

Georgia

Florida

Connecticut

Maine

Wisconsin

Maryland

New Jersey (State Librarian specifically requested a visit and we decided to do by phone.)

Profiles of these states will be included in the report. Karen Strege, former State Librarian in Montana, has been hired to conducted to do background research from their websites of all 15 states being studied and to conduct the telephone interviews for those states without field visits. A graduate student has also been hired to do background research on all 50 states.
Criteria for states chosen for field visits
States chosen are:

1. States with data from McClure/Bertot Study or where we can get initial data on connectivity.
All states meet this criteria

2. High Connectivity States both with and without a state network
Three states have statewide networks but different configurations.

Ohio

Missouri

Kentucky

One state does not have a network but does have high connectivity.

Michigan

3. Choose two states with low connectivity but interest in getting higher connectivity for their states
Kansas and Idaho meet this criteria.
In addition, we chose California because it has a combination of high connectivity in certain geographical areas and low connectivity in others. Two project team members will be visiting New Mexico on other business and they will conduct limited interviews there.

4. Be aware of unintended consequences.
We want to make sure that our interviews and visits do not create untended negative consequences for the states we contact. We will address in three ways:
a. We won’t to into a state without the express approval of the state librarian.
b. We will assure that the state librarian knows that confidential information will not be shared except with the project team
c. We will ask the state librarian for suggestions of whom we might interview

5. Pick at least one state with video franchising
Not sure which states meet this. Who knows?

6. Pick at least one state with an Advance Services & Technology Fund?
Not sure which states meet this. Who knows?

7. Pick at least on state with its own State E-Rate program?
Not sure which state meet this. Who knows?

During the selection of states, several were offered as candidates. The ones that were discussed by not selected include: Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Iowa, Nevada and Mississippi. These were removed from the list for a variety of reasons.

In the end, we selected the below states for visitation based upon states that were highly connected, less than ideally connected and a hybrid example.

I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THE SPECIFIC DATA WE HAVE IN TERMS OF CONNECTIVITY INTO THE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH STATE. IF WE ARE GOING TO INCLUDE THE STATES WHERE WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS, WE MIGHT WANT TO GET OUR COLLECTIVE INFORMATION TOGETHER FOR THOSE AS STATES AS WELL. KAREN WILL BE SEARCHING THEIR WEBSITES.

Several states were not selected to visit for a variety of reasons, but have enthusiastic participants from the MW focus groups, good examples. We have selected states to have phone conversations with key people to gather additional information include:

Connecticut

Learned much information at MW Focus Groups

State Network

Good mix of libraries that are and aren't connected at greater than 769 kbps

New England/East Coast State

Florida

Excellent Regional Networks

Several people from Florida are on the OITP E-Rate Task Force and Telecom Sub-Committee

John Bertot will be visiting New Mexico in March for Research purposes and has volunteered to collect data for us while he is there.. Further, Nancy Bolt will be at the New Mexico Library Association annual meeting in March, where she may be able to do a focus group or two.

In essence, NM will be an 8th state that we will have the potential to collect data from. Resaons for going to NM include: